Keltic Bard takes Novices' Chase
Amateur David Dunsdon showed himself to be a jockey on the up with a well-timed victory aboard Keltic Bard in the Martell Cognac Novices' Handicap Chase, which was run at a furious pace.
Dunsdon only came in for the mount at the last minute. Paul Cashman had been booked to ride the seven-year-old but was forced to sit out the contest after breaking a pelvis at an Irish point-to-point yesterday.
The 12-1 winner had to cope with a loose horse who almost forced him to run out at the final fence, but still managed to come home five lengths clear of The Bandit, with Polar Red a further four lengths back in third.
"We were lucky to get David, who gave him a great ride," said winning trainer Charlie Mann. "They went too quick for him in the Arkle (at Cheltenham) but he has done this nicely. He will go up to Ayr for his next run as he is still a fresh horse.
"It is my birthday as well today, so that isn't a bad present."
The concluding Martell Cognac Champion Standard National Hunt Flat Race fell to the Mary Reveley-trained Diamond Sal, who got off the mark at the fifth time of asking.
The winner, a 33-1 shot, battled well to see off second-placed Young Scotton, whose jockey `Slippers' Madden picked up a six-day ban (April 14-19) for using his whip with excessive frequency.
Rebel Rhythm was sent off the 13-8 favourite and, after running green in the final two furlongs, could do no better than finish third.
"She has been always been high-class and we thought she would win a big race," said the winning trainer's representative, Don Carcary.
"She is her own worst enemy, though, as she never settles. She did settle better last time at Sandown, although the soft ground was against her, and this win is no surprise."
